Summary by Summer sport
Non-participations
Sweden has participated in most summer sports, but they have yet to participate in: Baseball/Softball, Cricket, Field hockey, Lacrosse, Rugby football (neither Rugby sevens or the discontinued discipline Rugby union), Sport climbing and Surfing.
Sweden never participated in the following discontinued sports: Basque pelota, Croquet, Jeu de paume, Karate, Polo, Rackets, Roque and Water motorsports.
Artistic swimming has been included in the Olympic programme since 1984. Sweden has participated once, in 1988 Marie Jacobsson participated in women's solo and finished 9th. There are no men's events in the sport.
| Games | Swimmers | Events | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Ranking |
|---|
| 1988 Seoul | 1 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
|---|
Sweden first competed in track and field athletics in 1896, sending 1 athlete (Henrik Sjöberg) who competed in four events. Sweden's first medal in the sport was a bronze in the 1900 marathon by Ernst Fast.
Sweden has earned 21 gold and 84 total medals in athletics, its second most successful sport after wrestling (28 gold and 86 total). Sweden has 12th most gold medals in the sport, while its total medal count would place it 8th.
Sweden has had two medal sweeps in the sport. Sweden swept men's triple jump at home soil in 1912. Sweden also swept men's 3000 metres steeplechase in 1948, which is Sweden's most recent medal sweep in any Olympic event.
The Swedish athlete with most titles in the sport was Eric Lemming who won 3 Olympic titles; freestyle javelin in 1908 and javelin throw in 1908 and 1912. He won another four medals in the 1906 Intercalated Games. John Mikaelsson is the only other double Olympic champion Sweden has in the sport, he won 10 km walk in 1948 and 1952.
Sweden has two female Olympic champions in the sport; Ludmila Engquist won 100m hurdles in 1996 and Carolina Klüft won heptathlon in 2004.
The Swedish athletes with most medals in the sport are Edvin Wide with five (one silver and four bronzes) won between 1920 and 1928 followed by Eric Backman with four (one silver and three bronzes), all won in 1920.
The Swedish athlete with most participations in the sport was John Ljunggren who participated in 5 Olympic Games between 1948 and 1964, winning one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
- 1 Tage Brauer was registered to participate too, but sources conflict as to whether he actually participated. He was not included in this count.
Swedish athletes also won 2 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals in athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games. IOC has retroactively decided to no longer recognize those games as official Olympic games.
Basketball
3x3 basketball has been included in the Olympic programme since 2020, but Sweden has yet to participate in the discipline.
Basketball has been included in the Olympic programme since 1936. Sweden has participated once, in 1980. Sweden men's national basketball team participated in men's 5x5 and finished 10th.
| Games | Players | Events | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Ranking |
|---|
| 1980 Moscow | 12 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
|---|
Canoe slalom was first included in the Olympic programme in 1972. After that it didn't return until 1992, but it has remained in the programme since then.
Sweden has participated twice. Their best placement was by Erik Holmer who finished 9th in men's K1 in 2020. Sweden has so far not participated in women's events in the discipline.
Canoe sprint (including the discontinued discipline canoe marathon) has been included in the Olympic programme since 1936. Sweden has participated in the discipline every time it has been included in the programme.
Sweden's most successful athlete in the discipline is Gert Fredriksson. He won 8 medals (6 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and remains the most successful male canoeist of any country at the Olympic Games, [1] and the most successful Swedish Olympian in any sport. [2] His Olympic titles came in K1 1000m and K1 10 000m in 1948, K1 1000m in 1952, K1 1000m and K1 10 000m in 1956, and K2 1000m together with Sven-Olov Sjödelius in 1960.
The second most successful Swedish canoeist is Agneta Andersson who won 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. Her Olympic titles came in K1 500m in 1984, K2 500m with Anna Olsson in 1984, and K2 500m with Susanne Gunnarsson in 1996.
Sven-Olov Sjödelius is the remaining Swedish canoeist with two Olympic titles, aside from winning K2 1000m in 1960 with Gert Fredriksson (as listed above), he defended his title by winning K2 1000m in 1964 together with Gunnar Utterberg.
The most Olympic participations by a Swedish sprint canoeist is five, a record shared by three canoeists: Agneta Andersson (1980-1996), Anna Olsson (1984-2000) and Markus Oscarsson (1996-2012).
BMX freestyle has been included in the Olympic programme since 2020. Sweden has yet to participate in the discipline.
BMX racing has been included in the Olympic programme since 2008. Sweden has yet to participate in the discipline.
Road cycling was included in the Olympic programme in 1896. It returned in 1912 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since. Sweden first participated in 1912 and has participated in the discipline in every Summer Olympic games since then except for 2020.
Sweden's most successful athlete in the discipline was Ragnar Malm with 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. He won his gold medal together with Erik Friborg, Algot Lönn and Axel Persson in men's team time trial in 1912.
Sweden's two remaining gold medals were won by Harry Stenqvist in men's individual time trial in 1920 and Bernt Johansson in men's individual road race in 1976.
The most successful female Swedish cyclist in the discipline was Emma Johansson who won two silver medals in women's individual road race, first in 2008 and then again in 2016.
The Swedish athlete with most participations in the sport was Michael Lafis who participated in 4 Olympic Games between 1988 and 2000.
Sweden also participated in road cycling at the 1906 Intercalated Games without winning any medals in the discipline. IOC has retroactively decided to no longer recognize those games as official Olympic games.
Track cycling has been included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics, with the exception of the 1912 Games held in Sweden.
The best placement was by Andrew Hansson who was one of 9 cyclists to reach the final but who failed to finish top 4 in men's 20 km in 1908.
Sweden has yet to participate in women's events in the discipline.
Sweden also participated in track cycling at the 1906 Intercalated Games without winning any medals in the discipline. IOC has retroactively decided to no longer recognize those games as official Olympic games.
Henri Saint Cyr is the most successful Swedish athlete in equestrian, he won four gold medals in dressage, two each in 1952 and 1956.
Two Swedish riders have won gold medals in two different disciplines, both Georg von Braun and Åge Lundström won gold in team eventing in 1920 (together with Helmer Mörner) as well as gold in team jumping in 1924 (together with Axel Ståhle and Åke Thelning).
The Swedish athlete with most participations in the sport was Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén who participated in 7 Olympic Games between 1992 and 2016, all in dressage.
Dressage
Dressage had one event included in 1900. It returned to the Olympic programme in 1912 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since. Sweden participated in the discipline at the 1912 Games and has participated most times since then.
Sweden has had two medal sweeps in the discipline, individual dressage in 1912 and 1920.
Sweden's most successful athlete in the discipline is Henri Saint Cyr who won four gold medals. He won individual dressage in 1952 and 1956 as well as team dressage together with Gustaf Adolf Boltenstern Jr. and Gehnäll Persson both in 1952 and 1956.
Sweden's remaining three gold medals were all won in the individual event. Carl Bonde won in 1912, Janne Lundblad won in 1920 and Ernst Linder won in 1924.
The most successful female Swedish athlete in the discipline was Ulla Håkansson who won bronze in the team event in 1972 and 1984.
The Swedish athlete with most participations in the discipline is Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén who participated in 7 Olympic Games between 1992 and 2016.
Show jumping
Show Jumping was included in the Olympic programme in 1900. It returned in 1912 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since. Sweden has first competed in 1912 and has participated most times since then.
Sweden have won four gold medals in show jumping, all in the team jumping event. Gustaf Kilman, Gustaf Lewenhaupt, Hans von Rosen and Fredrik Rosencrantz won in 1912, Claës König, Frank Martin, Daniel Norling and Hans von Rosen won in 1920, Åge Lundström, Axel Ståhle and Åke Thelning won in 1924 and Malin Baryard-Johnsson, Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson won in 2020.
Sweden's most successful athletes in the discipline are Hans von Rosen who won 2 gold medals (in the team events in 1912 and 1920 as mentioned above) and Peder Fredricson who won 1 gold (in the team event in 2020) and 3 silver medals, in the team event in 2004, and in the individual events in 2016 and 2020.
The most participations in the discipline by a Swedish athlete is 5, by Malin Baryard-Johnsson (1996-2004, 2016–2020), Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (1996, 2004–2016, was also reserve in 2020) and Peter Eriksson (1984, 1992–1996, 2004–2008).
Discontinued disciplines
Equestrian driving was conducted during the 1900 Summer Olympics and equestrian vaulting during the 1920 Summer Olympics. Sweden didn't participate in the discipline in 1900, but did participate in both events in 1920, winning bronze in team vaulting.
| Games | Riders | Events | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Ranking |
|---|
| 1920 Antwerp | 5 | 2/2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Fencing has been included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Games. Sweden first participated in 1900 and has participated most times since then.
Sweden has won 7 medals in the sport; 2 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. The first gold was won by Rolf Edling, Carl von Essen, Göran Flodström, Leif Högström and Hans Jacobson in men's team épée in 1976. The second was won by Johan Harmenberg in men's épée in 1980.
The best placement in a women's event was 5th, by Kerstin Palm in women's foil in 1968. Kerstin Palm is also the Swedish athlete with most participations in the sport. She became the first woman from any country to participate in 7 Olympic Games by participating in all Summer Games between 1964 and 1988. [3]
Sweden also participated in fencing at the 1906 Intercalated Games without winning any medals in the sport. IOC has retroactively decided to no longer recognize those games as official Olympic games.
Football has been included in the Olympic programme since 1900 with the exception of the 1932 Games. Sweden first participated in 1908. The women's event was added in 1996, and Sweden has participated in every edition of that event.
Sweden has won five medals so far. Sweden's men's team won gold in 1948 and bronze in 1924 and 1952.
Sweden's women's team won silver in 2016 and 2020.
Sweden's most successful male Olympic footballer was Erik Nilsson who won gold in 1948 and bronze in 1952. Sweden's most successful female Olympic footballers are 9 players who won silver in both 2016 and 2020.
The most participations in the sport by a Swedish footballer is 4, shared between Hedvig Lindahl (2008–2020), Lotta Schelin (2004–2016) and Caroline Seger (2008–2020). Hedvig Lindahl was also part of the squad in 2004, but did not play in any games. [4]
Golf was originally included in the Olympic programme in 1900 and 1904 but without Swedish participation. Golf returned to the games in 2016, and Sweden has participated in it since.
Henrik Stenson won a silver in men's individual in 2016, which is Sweden's only medal in the sport so far.
Sweden's best placement in a women's event was by Anna Nordqvist who finished shared 11th in women's individual in 2016.
Artistic gymnastics has been included in the Summer Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Games. Sweden participated in the discipline at the 1896 Games and has participated frequently since then.
Sweden has won five gold medals in the sport, four of those in team events: men's team in 1908, men's team Swedish system in 1912 and 1920 and women's team portable apparatus in 1952.
Sweden's sole gold medalist in an individual event is William Thoresson who won men's floor in 1952. He also won a silver medal in the same event in 1956 and is the Swedish athlete with most participations in Artistic Gymnastics in the Olympic games as he participated in four Games between 1952 and 1964.
Sweden's most successful athletes in the discipline are seven men who won two gold in team events; Holmberg, Landberg, brothers Norling and Norling, Rosén and Svensson won in 1908 and 1912, and John Sörenson won in 1912 and 1920.
Sweden's most successful female athlete is Ann-Sofi Pettersson-Colling who in women's team portable apparatus won gold in 1952 and silver in 1956, and she also won a bronze in vault in 1956.
Trampoline has been included in the Olympic programme since 2000. Sweden has yet to participate in the discipline.
Handball was included in the Olympic programme in 1936. It returned in 1972 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since. Sweden first participated in 1972 and has participated in the sport in most Summer Olympic games since then. Sweden has won four medals, all silver, in the sport. Sweden men's national handball team managed to win those in the men's events in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2012. The best placements in the women's event was 4th which Sweden women's national handball team achieved in 2020.
Ola Lindgren, Staffan Olsson and Magnus Wislander share the Swedish record for most medals in the sport, with three silver medals each.
The most participations in the sport by a Swedish handballer is 4, shared between Per Carlén (1984–1996), Ola Lindgren (1988–2000), Mats Olsson (1984–1996), Staffan Olsson (1988–2000) and Magnus Wislander (1988–2000).
Sailing has been included in the Olympic programme since 1900 with the exception of the 1904 Games. Sweden first participated in 1908 and has participated every time since then.
Sweden's most successful athlete in the sport is Tore Holm who won 2 gold and 2 bronze medals. Together with Yngve Holm, Axel Rydin and Georg Tengwall he won gold in 40 m2 skerry cruiser in 1920 and together with Martin Hindorff, Åke Bergqvist and Olle Åkerlund he won gold in the 6 metre in 1932.
Sweden's remaining gold medals were won by the following athletes: Ericsson, Hellström, Isberg, Lundén, Nyberg, Rosenswärd, Wallerius and Wallin in 10 metre in 1912; Gösta Bengtsson, Gösta Lundquist and Rolf Steffenburg in 30 m2 skerry cruiser in 1920; Sven Thorell in 12 foot dinghy in 1928; Folke Bohlin, Bengt Palmquist and Leif Wikström in dragon in 1956; Hjalmar Karlsson, Sture Stork, Lars Thörn in 5.5 metre in 1956; Jörgen Sundelin, Peter Sundelin and Ulf Sundelin in 5.5 metre in 1968; John Albrechtson and Ingvar Hansson in tempest in 1976 and Fredrik Lööf and Max Salminen in star in 2012.
Sweden's most successful female sailors are Birgitta Bengtsson and Marit Söderström who won silver in women's 470 in 1988 and Josefin Olsson who won silver in laser radial in 2020.
The Swedish athlete with most participations in the sport was Fredrik Lööf who participated in 6 Olympic Games between 1992 and 2012.
Skateboarding was first introduced at the 2020 Summer Olympics. The only Swedish participant so far was Oskar Rozenberg who finished 17th in men's park.
| Games | Skateboarders | Events | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Ranking |
|---|
| 2020 Tokyo | 1 | 1/4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
|---|
Marathon swimming has been included in the Olympic programme since 2008. Sweden has participated once, Eva Berglund participated in the women's event in 2008 and finished 18th.
| Games | Swimmers | Events | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Ranking |
|---|
| 2008 Beijing | 1 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
|---|
Volleyball
Beach volleyball has been included in the Olympic programme since 1996. Sweden has participated three times.
The best placement was by Björn Berg and Simon Dahl who finished 9th in the men's event in 2004. Sweden has so far not participated in women's events in the discipline.
Water polo has been included in the Olympic programme since 1900 with the exception of the 1904 Games. Sweden first participated in 1908 and has participated eight times in total.
Sweden men's national water polo team has won three medals in the men's event, a silver in 1912 and bronzes in 1908 and 1920.
Sweden's most successful athletes in the sport are Robert Andersson, Pontus Hanson, Harald Julin and Torsten Kumfeldt who all have one silver and two bronze medals. They participated together all three times Sweden men's national water polo team managed to medal.
Sweden has yet to participate in women's events in the sport.
Summary by Winter sport
Non-participations
Sweden has participated in all winter sports except Skeleton.
Cross-country skiing has been was included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics. Sweden has participated in the sport every time it has been included in the programme and has even participated in every event held in the sport.
Sweden has had three medal sweeps in the sport, men's 50 km in 1928 and 1936 as well as men's 18 km in 1948.
The Swedish cross-country skiers with most Olympic medals are Sixten Jernberg (4 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) and Charlotte Kalla (3 gold, 6 silver). Gunde Svan (4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and Thomas Wassberg (4 gold) have also won four Olympic titles in cross-country skiing.
The Swedish athlete with most participations in the sport is Torgny Mogren who participated in 5 Olympic Games between 1984 and 1998.
Curling was included in the Olympic programme during the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics. It didn't return until 1998, but has remained in the Games since then. Sweden has participated in the sport every time it has been included in the programme.
Sweden has won four gold medals in the sport. Its most successful athletes are Anna Le Moine, Cathrine Lindahl, Eva Lund and Anette Norberg who won two gold medals together in the women's event; in 2006 with Ulrika Bergman and in 2010 with Kajsa Bergström.
Sweden's remaining gold medals were won by Anna Hasselborg, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs, Sara McManus and Jennie Wåhlin in the women's event in 2018 and by Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Daniel Magnusson, Christoffer Sundgren and Rasmus Wranå in the men's event in 2022.
Niklas Edin (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and Oskar Eriksson (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) are the most successful male Swedish curlers. They are also the Swedish curlers with most Olympic participations in the sport; they participated together in four Olympic Games between 2010 and 2022.
Figure skating was first included in the Olympic programme in the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics. It was moved to the Winter Olympics with the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics and has been included in every Winter Olympic Games. Sweden did participate in the sport in its inaugural 1908 competitions and has participated most times since then.
Sweden has had one medal sweep in the sport, men's singles during the 1908 Summer Olympics.
Sweden's most successful athlete in the sport was Gillis Grafström who won gold in men's singles in 1920, 1924 and 1928 and silver in the same discipline in 1932. He's the only figure skater with four medals in the same event. [7] He's also the Swedish figure skater with most Olympic participations in the sport with those four.
The other two Swedish Olympic champions in the sport are Ulrich Salchow who won gold in men's singles in 1908 and Magda Julin who won gold in ladies' singles in 1920.
Nordic combined has been included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1924 Winter Games. Sweden participated in the inaugural games and participated many times in the beginning but they have not participated in the sport since the 1972 Games.
Sweden has won two medals in the sport. Bengt Eriksson won silver at the individual event in 1956 and Sven Israelsson won bronze in the individual event in 1948.
There are no women's events in the sport.
Short track speed skating was introduced to the Olympic programme in 1992. Sweden has participated in the sport 3 times.
The best placement was by Martin Johansson who finished 7th in men's 500 metres in 1994. Sweden has yet to participate in women's events in the sport.
Ski jumping has been included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1924 Winter Games. Sweden has participated most times since then.
Sweden has obtained two medals in the sport. Sven Selånger won silver in the event in 1936 and Karl Holmström won bronze in the event in 1952.
Sweden's best placement in a women's event is 16th, by Frida Westman in women's normal hill in 2022.
